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JOHN  HENRI  NASH 


/7fS. 


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Praised  be  my  Lord  for  all  those  who  pardon 
one  another  for  his  love's  sake,  and  who  endure 
weakness  and  tribulation;  blessed  are  they  who 
peaceably  shall  endure;  for  thou,  O  most  High- 
est, shalt  give  them  a  crown  I 


CHANT  OF  CREATION 
SAINT  FRANCIS 
"OUR  OWN  SAINT  FRANCIS" 


oAn  Address 

Delivered  by  His  ^race 

Most  Reverend  Edward  J.  Hanna,  D.D. 

at  the  Requiem  Mass  said  for 

the  repose  of  the  soul  of 

Joseph  Sadoc  Tobin 

February  £ighth 

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lUTY  imposes  upon  us  in  this 
presence  a  word  of  sympathy, 
a  word  of  praise,  a  word  of 
exhortation,  a  word  that  will 
voice  prayer  for  rest,  prayer  for  peace. 

Our  hearts  go  out  in  loving,  tender, 
kindly  sympathy  to  his  own,  to  those  who 
knew  him  and  loved  him  as  others  could 
not,  and  we  would  if  we  could  temper 
their  sorrow,  calm  their  troubled  hearts. 
But  knowing  our  own  weakness  we  can 
only  turn  their  minds  to  Him  who  does 
all  things  well,  and  who  alone  can  com- 
fort and  can  heal. 

Duty  demands  a  word  of  praise.  Na- 
ture dowered  our  loved  friend  with  her 
best  gifts,  and  made  him  verily  a  man 
among  men.  In  the  big  world  of  com- 
merce he  stood  forth  a  trusted  leader,  and 


the  poor  gladly  confided  to  him  their 
little  treasure;  in  the  world  of  govern- 
ment his  ideals,  his  aims,  ever  brought 
the  admiration  of  the  best;  in  the  world 
where  we  meet  in  social  intercourse  his 
place  was  ever  secure.  But  blending  har- 
moniously with  his  great  gifts  of  nature 
were  the  higher  gifts  that  came  of  faith, 
his  great  reditude,  his  delicate  sense  of 
truth  and  of  justice,  his  tenderness  and 
sympathy  which  he  learned  of  Christ,  his 
high  standards  which  made  him  value 
mercy  and  justice,  and  the  service  of  God 
and  of  his  fellows  beyond  the  treasures 
of  this  world,  beyond  the  things  that  must 
pass  with  life.  Nor  is  it  easy,  in  the  midst 
of  the  fascination  which  the  things  of  this 
passing  life  exercise  over  us,  to  keep  one- 
self unspotted  from  the  world,  and  be- 


cause  our  departed  one  reached  this  al- 
most ideal  height,  do  we  give  to  him  our 
simple  word  of  merited  praise. 

Though  he  has  gone  from  his  wonted 
place,  may  not  his  godly  life,  his  sterling 
worth,  his  great  strength  'mid  the  temp- 
tations of  the  world,  his  kindly  spirit,  his 
love  for  the  higher  things,  be  an  incentive 
to  us  who  still  in  weakness  struggle  on 
to  the  bourne?  May  not  his  example 
strengthen  us  when  failure  threatens? 
May  not  his  nobility  of  purpose  encour- 
age us  when  poor  human  nature  would 
take  the  easier  way?  If  it  could  be  so,  his 
passing  will  not  be  without  mighty  good. 

There  must  still  be  a  prayer  for  peace. 
Our  faith  teaches  us  that  naught  that  is 
touched  with  defilement  can  enter  heaven; 
our  faith  teaches  us  that  our  prayers  and 

3 


our  sacrifices  may  help  those  who  as  yet 
have  not  entered  the  fulness  of  that  vision 
which  is  the  joy  of  the  Saints.  If  we  really 
love,  we  can  render  great  service;  if  we 
really  love,  we  can  in  our  prayers  keep 
our  loved  one  bound  to  us  in  closest  ties; 
if  we  really  love,  we  can  help  him  pass 
from  the  place  of  trial  unto  the  enjoyment 
of  God,  whom  in  life  he  loved  so  well  and 
served  so  faithfully.  If  we  really  love,  our 
prayers  can  lift  him  from  his  place  of  pu- 
rification into  that  home  of  the  soul  where 
all  is  peace  and  joy  and  love  forever.  And, 
as  we  bow  humbly  beneath  God's  loving 
hand,  we  in  calm  resignation  lift  our  eyes 
to  heaven  while  we  pray  for  our  dear  one 
that  ^^his  place  be  in  peace  and  his  abode 
in  Holy  Sion." 


San  Francisco: 

"Printed  by  John  Henry  "^ash 

Mdccccxviii 


